Kevin and I have gotten to know different parts of the country by following our children to summer camp in their youth, and graduate schools in their adulthood. In October, we went to Golden, Colorado where my son is pursuing his Masters in Hydrogeology at the Colorado School of Mines.

Here are some highlights of our trip…

First stop was the Gem Museum at the University.   Wow! The power of these rocks from all over the world was palpable. The museum consists of 2 floors of brightly faceted to dully-compressed stone.  Some were even made man lasered crystals like this ‘Bismuth’ below.

Onward by car we drove toward the Rocky National Park, noting the damage from the recent floods. The park was closed because snow removal had been neglected during the government furlough, but on the way we saw this lovely stone Chapel on the Rock.  It had luckily been spared for the fourth time in history by overflowing creeks and heavy debris from the terrible flood.

Next was Leadville- the highest elevation of any city in the U. S. of A. This is where Doc Holiday shot the Sherriff, without any penalty. How about this garden gate we saw at the local Art Gallery. I asked Kevin if I could ship it home…pleeease..

Later that day was the scenic (and kind of tricky) drive through Independence Pass.  This Pass marks the Continental Divide with a two-lane road through the Rockies, which also serves as a bike route. Yikes!

All in all it was a great trip.  When we return, I want to see the botanical gardens where our son went last week, and saw this sundial fountain. Look familiar? It resembles the motif we use around many of our millstone fountains.

Christie lives in Manakin Sabot , Virginia where she manages a 3 acre garden. Her blogs are written from her 35 years as a personal and professional gardener.